 Scourge in the 6th world., Matrix, corporations and space. |
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 Nov 30 2006, 11:01 AM
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#1
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Moving Target  Group: Members Posts: 141 Joined: 12-August 05 From: Helsinki Member No.: 7,552  |
So I was wondering what's gonna happen when the horrors come this time. It would seem that metahumanity has better chances this time, at least if those damn immortals would warn them. But could the horrors somehow enter the matrix? If they can corrupt your mind, couldn't they enter the matrix that way? And how about space? With a couple of thousand years of time, I think it wouldn't be too hard for metahumanity to seek refuge in the stars, but, could the horrors somehow exit the manasphere?
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Nov 30 2006, 11:45 AM
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#2
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Awakened Asset Group: Members Posts: 4,464 Joined: 9-April 05 From: AGS, North German League Member No.: 7,309 |
About the only clear answer: The horrors can´t leave the manasphere. If they want to leave earth the physical way, they need to take the manasphere with them.
Else: Different games, so hard to say. Without stronger magic on the metahuman side, they´ll win. But the mana is just starting to flow. |
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Nov 30 2006, 05:39 PM
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#3
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Prime Runner Group: Banned Posts: 3,732 Joined: 1-September 05 From: Prague, Czech Republic Member No.: 7,665 |
The horrors are going to get their asses royally handed to them.
Magic power is essentially a lottery where every child born gets a ticket. More people means more tickets. More tickets means more winners. The world population at the time of the Scourge last time around was about 6.5 million. Scourge 2.0 is looking down the barrel of a world pop that is over 6.5 billion. That means that the magical armies on the side of humanity are going to be one thousand times as large! And they are going to be backed up with lasers, and nuclear bombs, and orbital weapons platforms, and so on and so forth. Furthermore, this time around the forces of humanity are coming in prepared, and with more allies than they ever had. As soon as horrors come into the picture, the Invae have shown that they are willing to team up with humanity to beat the Scourge. By the time it arrives, Verjigorm will be a minor social problem whose destruction will get on page 6 of the newsfeeds in continents other than the one he appeared in. When Scabiel the Maker of Ruins arises, he will be smashed before a tenday has run its course. -Frank |
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Nov 30 2006, 05:53 PM
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#4
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 399 Joined: 27-May 04 Member No.: 6,361 |
While I doubt it'll be near that easy, humanity does have a rather massive advantage via technology and numbers compared to the last round. However theres one catch; metahumanity has to stay in one piece long enough to fight the Horrors. My guess is they have maybe a thousand years to do so. Thats a long time and alot could happen, and the Scourge has agents that are insanely crafty (literally) and subtle. Not to mention the constant environmental damage that has the potential to reduce said population to crippling numbers instead.
In the end, its a test of cohesion and endurance. |
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Nov 30 2006, 06:01 PM
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#5
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 248 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Note Calonna Member No.: 241 |
The smarter horrors would figure out pretty quickly that a frontal assault on Metahumanity would be suicidal. Some would work behind the scenes and cause strife by making Metahumanity war with itself.
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Nov 30 2006, 06:03 PM
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#6
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Go Metahumans Go!
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Nov 30 2006, 06:10 PM
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#7
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Prime Runner Group: Banned Posts: 3,732 Joined: 1-September 05 From: Prague, Czech Republic Member No.: 7,665 |
Absolutely. The problem is that the big ones like Ristul don't have any choice. Their presence is visible until blocked by the curvature of the Earth and they will get drawn into a full frontal with humanity it will turn out badly for them. The smaller horrors, however, can fade away into crime statistics. Wraiths and Falsemen will probably wander cities and rural areas cacking people for centuries. Maybe forever. It's a Scourge of Scourges - where all the major horrors will go down in a blaze of glory and the minor horrors will plot an uprising that will doubtless gain traction in some places. Some cities will be razed, but the hands will be of minor horrors who stole biological weapons not major horrors who crushed the cities beneath an astral claw. -Frank |
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Nov 30 2006, 06:14 PM
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#8
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Great, I'm a Dragon... Group: Retired Admins Posts: 6,699 Joined: 8-October 03 From: North Germany Member No.: 5,698 |
The question was not "can we beat the horrors?".
We had that discussion long ago. |
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Nov 30 2006, 06:23 PM
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#9
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Bah! :P
We need both a new Horrors thread, and since it's only a little early for New Years, this one will do. :D Horrors Drool! |
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Nov 30 2006, 07:42 PM
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#10
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Shadow Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 3,737 Joined: 2-June 06 From: Secret Tunnels under the UK (South West) Member No.: 8,636 |
That assumes a co-ordinated humanity. But look how the British empire was built, piecemeal alliances and betrayals. I understand that these Horrors are intelligent? I think you would see a very clear divide and conquer strategy. And even if mankind is united in terms of nation with nation, are they united socio-economically? You look at the world of 2070 and you see a ruling class of very wealthy and a sprawling underclass of SINless and workers that are indentured in all but name. Suppose the horrors start formenting revolution? Or maybe they simply side with the ruling elite? After all, as you point out, there are 6 billion people this time (and more by by the next scourge, perhaps), so that's more people to munch on and perhaps the ruling elite will save themselves an expensive war by tossing some of the disenfranchised the horror's way, because those people are always a nuisance anyway. And I may be wrong with this, but don't the horrors start appearing gradually, with smaller ones like Wraiths coming across to begin with. I don't know what the big horrors are like, but the rules for Shadow Spirits provide for some pretty ugly scenarios. I would envision the coming of the horrors to be preceded by increasing unrest, violence, fear and division as the lesser ones start making their presence felt. I'm not saying that you're wrong in your position, but I'm showing how easily a GM can represent it differently and I think my take is plausible. Unless human nature has changed radically, and Shadowrun history suggests it has not, then there will be plenty of people ready to sell their neighbours down the river, to standby and let others suffer, to take advantage of another groups distraction, to split along lines of race, religion or wealth. Humanity may be stocked to the gills with weaponry when the horrors arrive, but on a divided, overcrowded Earth, that isn't going to help if the horrors turn mankind on itself. |
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Nov 30 2006, 07:56 PM
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#11
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,150 Joined: 19-December 05 From: Rhein-Ruhr Megaplex Member No.: 8,081 |
Sounds plausible. Mankind will probably unite against an overpowering foe, while lesser ones get away. And, like they say, hell is other people. Who needs horrors? |
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Nov 30 2006, 07:58 PM
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#12
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Shadow Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 3,737 Joined: 2-June 06 From: Secret Tunnels under the UK (South West) Member No.: 8,636 |
It occurs to me that humanity might escape into space. Or at least the most able portions of it which would leave the rest to survive on a defenceless Earth. But the horrors make their way to Earth when the mana level is sufficiently high to open the way / support them. As the exodites spread and grow, gradually forgetting what they fled, their manaspheres grow in size and richness. A glorious civilisation progressing ever onwards... to the point at which the ancient evil can enter their world and destroy them. Sounds like the plot of every other sci-fi movie, but it fits cannon, I think. :D |
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Nov 30 2006, 08:02 PM
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#13
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,001 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Michigan Member No.: 1,514 |
Yeah Frank's right, because after all with all the raw magical power metahumanity has, no horror could possibly hope to taint or mark us...oh wait. Huh there are rules for raw magic use and horrors in Earthdawn? Huh. Well what do you know?
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Nov 30 2006, 11:37 PM
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#14
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Great, I'm a Dragon... Group: Retired Admins Posts: 6,699 Joined: 8-October 03 From: North Germany Member No.: 5,698 |
The magicians in the 4th Age developed matrices to channel the magic and save themselves of the consequences that raw magic has.
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Nov 30 2006, 11:49 PM
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#15
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 7,089 Joined: 4-October 05 Member No.: 7,813 |
i think that's his point... the 6th world does not (generally) have that... which could be problematic :P although, otoh, there are certain metamagics which do something similar. |
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Nov 30 2006, 11:52 PM
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#16
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
There's a couple of years yet for metahumanity to (re)develop them, and more. And there is a being or three that has direct knowledge about all those magical things that require the mana level to be just a touch higher.
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Dec 1 2006, 12:58 AM
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#17
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 751 Joined: 7-June 02 From: Hamilton.LTG.on.ca Member No.: 2,853 |
Invae??
Whats books can I find reffences from? |
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Dec 1 2006, 12:59 AM
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#18
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Invae = Bugs. ;)
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Dec 1 2006, 02:45 AM
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#19
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
Spell Matrices weren't perfect. Any magic use opens you up to a horror mark form the nastier and subtler ones, such as Taint.
The big problem with fighting the Horrors is metaplaner shortcuts. It is a trick that any being which originates on the metaplanes can use when on our world, and a very useful one. In order to defend against Horror incursion you need 4-dimensional wards such as those created by the Rites of Passage and Protection. Without warding against metaplaner incursion they can pop in at any time. The problem is that, the way wards work, you'd have to have something like a Kaer. You can't just ward the entire planet. Now, within Arcologies that have been warded by the Rites of Passage and Protection you are pretty much safe. The chances of a single horror breaking though are minimal. But, and this is the big problem, in order to attack the horrors you'll have to go outside. In order to go outside you have to open the door. If you open the door then things can get in. Kaers were completely sealed for a reason. The second problem is probably worse, sheer numbers. No one knows how mnay Horrors ravage the land during the peak of the Scourge, save for Chantrel, who lived through it due to the protection of her Eternal Friend, and the Horrors themselves. However, it isn't unreasonable to assume billions of Horrors cross over at this time, perhaps even trillions and you'll probably get into the quadrillions and quintillions if you start counting the individual Dread Iotas. When your 10-magician horror hunting party gets ambushed by 100s Gnashers who took advantage of the metaplanes to surround you completely, you've got a problem. The Named Horrors have never been the problem. The biggest baddest Horrors are subtle, take very few victims, and work alone. A small party of adepts decently skilled adepts can take down a solitary Named Horror. This is one of the reasons why the Named rarely stay and fight once exposed. The real problem is the Unnamed. But this isn't because they'll just kill a few people in the barrens and avoid notice. No, it is the Named that will avoid notice. The unnamed will instead overwhelm with sheer numbers. Just think about it. Aazhvat drives individuals insane with pseudo-illusions, one at a time. It isn't into the giant acts of violence. Artificer builds trap mazes. That'll destroy a city :S Bonecrown is a consumate politian who cultivates the love of the masses and uses their loyalty to fuel his power Heck, he's probably Angela Colloton. Chantrel's Eternal Friend picks one person to grant immortality and kills all of that individual's friends and family. Its a nice plot for a horror movie but not exactly earthshattering. Despairthought convinces neglectful parents to sacrifice their children. Druistdadt targets entire riverboats full of Tskrang sailors. Yeah, Tskrang riverboats are very important to the Sixth World's economy. Fla Tra Lys gives undead servants to whoever plays its pipes. :S If you like good music then he's evil incarnate. Otherwise, it ain't really dangerous. Giftbringer sells crap. Selling crap is the only thing that he does. This does lead to the destruction of entire communities, but only because he is a blatent rip-off of Leland Gaunt from Needful Things. Hate sows distrust amongst groups by attacking some and leaving others unharmed. Dangerous, but not major at all. The Hunter of Hunters eats other horrors. Joie turns people into masochists, causing them to revel in their own suffering as if it were the greatest of joys. There are enough S&M clubs in the sixth world that this is unlikely to turn heads. Nebis gets killed alot. That's what he does. He gets himself killed. He marks whoever kills them and manipulates them into doing random violent crap until he can steal their body parts. This isn't a very big deal on a global scale. Nemesis is a goddamn capitalist. Like Giftbringer, he buys and sells; but his goods don't inspire havoc and they're actually worth more than what he sells them for. As a political lobbyist, he's primarily a "tough on crime" guy who believes in high taxes and metahuman slavery. He'd right at home in the Sixth World if he'd rethink the tax issue. If he doesn't already own a megacorp he probably will in the future. Ristul can't be killed any more than you can kill all of the water in the world. He doesn't exactly act much, either. The Rift is a big exception to this, but he seems content to spread himself slowly. Taint corrupts magicians. If you aren't a magician then it is not a big deal. Tempter corrupts well-meaning adventurers by offering them the power to do good. If you aren't a well-meaning adventurer then it isn't a big deal. Ubyr, okay, Ubyr essences drains entire cities at once. He's a giant destructive essence leach. I'll give you that one. Verjigorm hunts dragons. Terrible, if you are a dragon. Ysrthgranthe abuses Aina. Terrible, if you are Aina. But, just look at the Unamed Baggi eat people. That's all they do. They eat people whole. Crystaline entities Possess homes, garages, and toolsheds and then makes people inside grow spikes if it doesn't kill them outright with spells. Dread Iotas are bacterium or viruses. But worse, each and every one of them is sentient and capible of using magic. They exist to infect as many people as is possible and they will communicate with their victims and manipulate them in order to propagate the infection. Gnashers eat and jump. Those are the only two things they do. They don't even poop. They are truly omnivorous and their appetites are insatiable. They eat anything and everything untill they were full, which is never. Enough Gnashers could eat the entire planet. Kreescra Give people nightmares and prevent the healing of wounds. Mindslugs crawl into people's skulls while they sleep and feed of of their brains. Slipshades are harmless unless you trespass onto their territory. Wingflayers are flying clouds of razor-sharp splinters. They shred any living being in their path. Wormskulls, I'm not sure what they do. The unmaned are generally all much more obvious and, more impotantly, they cause more destruction due to their sheer numbers. Gnashers can eat entire cities and without 4d wards there is no way to prevent them from infiltrating a city. Likewise, there is no way to prevent a Crystaline entiry from possessing your home and killing you in the most painful way possible without a 4d ward. Dread Iotas can potentially infect and kill millions, if not billions. They'll make VITAS look like a freaking rhinovirus. |
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Dec 1 2006, 02:57 AM
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#20
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Prime Runner Group: Banned Posts: 3,732 Joined: 1-September 05 From: Prague, Czech Republic Member No.: 7,665 |
Correction: in the Fourth Age, you couldn't just Ward the entire planet. Now we have geosynchronous sattelites which can hold little pieces of paper and you can ward the entire planet. Thing is... noone sees any reason to do that... yet. -Frank |
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Dec 1 2006, 03:01 AM
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#21
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 906 Joined: 16-October 06 Member No.: 9,630 |
Would the villain Talon from the sega genesis shadowrun be counted as one of the horrors?
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Dec 1 2006, 03:03 AM
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#22
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
Well, if we applied the Rites of Passage and Protection to the entire planet it would prevent more Invae from crossing over and spirit summoning, in general. But a horror could just materialize in outerspace and smash up the satellites. All it needs is some astral armor or a purely physical presence
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Dec 1 2006, 03:11 AM
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#23
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 7,089 Joined: 4-October 05 Member No.: 7,813 |
hmmm... wasn't demonseed elite talking about how you were supposed to be able to ward vehicles?
so 4-D ward a few tanks, install mage goggles, and go to town nuking the crap out of everything! (or of course, you could just pull an Ares, nuke everything, and release swarms of magic-eating bacteria all over the place. I'm sure FAB III loves horrors :P ) |
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Dec 1 2006, 03:12 AM
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#24
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Prime Runner Group: Banned Posts: 3,732 Joined: 1-September 05 From: Prague, Czech Republic Member No.: 7,665 |
I don't think they can actually. Horrors need a higher than normal amount of mana to arrive at all. So while I'm sure that many a horror could survive at least brief exposure to the mana ebbs - they can't appear in one. No bridge as it were. As to shutting off all conjuring, that really depends upon what kind of ward they made. There are wards that are permeable to certain directions or types of trespassers. The Sattelite Horror Defense (SHD) is really looking extremely plausible from where I'm standing. Well within Shadowrun Magitechnical capability. -Frank |
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Dec 1 2006, 03:16 AM
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#25
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 906 Joined: 16-October 06 Member No.: 9,630 |
What about capturing weaker horrors infecting them with FABIII then sending them home. Use those 4-D wards in a prison sense. |
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